Ryan Lilja ends retirement, and agrees to join Broncos

Ted BartlettJul 31, 2013 7:29 PM

According to Mike Klis, the Broncos have agreed to terms with Ryan Lilja on a one-year contract to join the team, presumably to compete for the starting center position. The Broncos have lost starter J.D. Walton for a significant part of the season, and recently lost presumed replacement Dan Koppen to a torn ACL. Manny Ramirez has been taking the starter's reps lately.

Lilja, who is a bit undersized at 6-2 and 290 pounds, played for the Colts from 2004 through 2009 primarily as a guard, and then joined the Chiefs for the 2010 through 2012 seasons. He had retired earlier in this offseason, so his signing is a reversal of that. Lilja rated as a 14.6 on PFF's scale last season, while playing center for the Chiefs. That's better than any Bronco has done at the position since Casey Wiegmann posted a 33.1 rating in 2008.

Update - 8:00 PM EDT - According to Klis, the maximum value of the contract is $2.2 million.

1. I’m not in the arguing business, I’m in the saying what I think business.
2. I get my information from my eyes.

Well, I've seen him get his hands on people and still get overpowered/turned around.

Posted by aLuffabo on 2013-08-01 14:38:10

Really? He seems strong enough to me. Whether he has the foot quickness to excel, especially on ZBS plays, is another story.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-08-01 14:04:04

That's probably an accurate view. Maybe my hopes for Manny are too high. I hope he gets his shot in the first few preseason games and makes the most of it. If not, well, that's why they signed Lilja.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-08-01 14:02:56

I just don't think ManRam is athletic or strong enough to be a starting caliber center or guard in this league.

Posted by aLuffabo on 2013-08-01 13:33:07

Valid points, all.

I just think that if we truly have Super Bowl aspirations, cutting a useful player and excellent insurance policy on something as important as the O-line is not the way to go. Having a weak link on the line is a recipe for disaster, and even with his improvements over the years, Man Ram is still a below-average player if he's forced into starting at either guard spot for us.

I guess we just have to hold our breath and wait! :)

Posted by aLuffabo on 2013-08-01 13:31:39

One thing to remember when considering affordability is cap rollover. Cutting Kuper now would free up about $2.7 million they could rollover to next year as well as free up the $1.8 million that would become dead money if they cut him next year. So cutting him this year instead of next, frees up $4.5 million in cap space in 2014. That is a pretty significant chunk of change that could help them resign Decker, Ayers, Woodyard and Beadles after this season (or DT or Von after 2014)

If Lilja is playing center, then Denver will have Ramirez available to back up Beadles and Vasquez. My assumption is that Denver was keeping Kuper around as insurance during training camp because there was no advantage to cutting Kuper at this point. But I have a feeling that they will either cut him towards the end of training camp or use the threat of being cut to pressure him to renegotiate his deal. I don't know that Kuper would get a ton of interest on the open market so close to the start of the season. Denver could even cut him and then try to resign him after week 1 when his salary is no longer guaranteed.

Posted by MattR on 2013-08-01 12:57:01

lol...

Posted by John Tomasik on 2013-08-01 11:01:33

Yeah, I know, but if there was the occasional report of one of our D-linemen being knocked back or stone-walled or... something. All I've really seen is that they make him look bad. Which is great from a defense perspective, but even then ideally you'd want the defense practicing against better competition.

Posted by carsonic on 2013-08-01 11:01:29

Just look at Jamarcus Russell....

Posted by John Tomasik on 2013-08-01 11:01:03

I'm sure you are right.

Posted by Alaskan on 2013-08-01 10:28:04

Aren't a lot of opportunities for "wow" moments from the Center position.

Posted by booboodevo on 2013-08-01 10:24:24

WHAI U GOTTA DO THAT ALL THE TIME UR MEEN AN JELUS /BRAAAAAAAAAAINS

Posted by booboodevo on 2013-08-01 10:22:23

Well, the guys who work and see Ramirez every day seem to be voting otherwise. The Broncos staff know they have limited time with Manning at the helm, and I imagine that they want results now and not sometime in the future.

I guess I look at it a bit different: if the front office is willing to bring on an undersized guy who's marginal at Center, in retirement, and coming off injury, over a guy who's been in the system directly, healthy, in shape, and relatively young, then the guy here definitely isn't our man, and this team has issues at the position.

Again, the RB's here had better get their blocking act together, in addition to putting effective yards up while carrying the rock, because this offense is going to need it.

Posted by John Tomasik on 2013-08-01 10:01:06

Why is everyone so eager to be rid of Kuper this offseason? It's not our money we're talking about here. Yes, he's being paid a decent sized salary, but he can only help us as depth where we sit right now. Even with Lilja playing center, we need a guy like Kuper waiting in the wings. If Beadles or Vasquez go down and we've dumped Kuper, then what?

As we can afford it, why not keep Kuper as a great insurance policy?

Posted by aLuffabo on 2013-08-01 09:42:54

Yay!

Posted by John Tomasik on 2013-08-01 08:22:34

I really want Manny to succeed, as well, but I just haven't seen evidence that he will. There's a chance that, as you say, Peyton's direct tutelage could make a difference. And maybe some chewage from Alex Gibbs makes things really click for him. I just think we would have had a least a few 'wow' moments in camp by now, mixed in with all the 'ho-hum' moments.

I'll be keeping an eye on your bandwagon, though, just in case.

Posted by carsonic on 2013-08-01 06:46:49

Someone questioned if Walton's ankle could be the begining of the end for him a lot like Kuper's issues..

IIRC Walton's problem was they found an infection surrounding the hardware they implanted in the repair, this second surgery was to clean that infection out and replace the hardware..

Can you shed some light on this from a medical standpoint..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-08-01 03:47:50

Walton was almost ready when they found an infection in the hardware they implanted in his ankle.. it was something the surgeons got wrong during the first repair..

Unless that infection weakened his ankle it is unlikely it will affect him down the road..

But then this is an area that perhaps Doc can answer with more authority..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-08-01 03:39:12

count me as a NYA vote..

while John has been developing its young talent, do not see them giving manny the keys to the vette, when he was barely holding on in near a full year last year..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-08-01 03:35:23

sometime you retire, but do not actually stop all activities at the time..

hoping someone like us comes along and makes you an offer you can not refuse..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-08-01 03:29:49

I am happy to see Ryan Lilja become a Bronco. However - I am thinking that what Doc said about Blake may well be coming to pass. I am also wondering about Walton - as he was injured last season and is again right now with an ankle injury. Hopefully he is not having the same breakdown there as Kuper has had. We might be looking at using a high draft pick on another center next season. I would still characterize the depth on the OL as close to paper thin. A little better than last season - but still very thin.Thank, Ted.

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2013-08-01 03:28:41

Still plent of time to get on thr ManRam bandwagon (population: me). Here's a young guy with good size who improved as the season went along and he grew more comfortable in his role. Now he's been working with Peyton through OTAs, mini-camp and training camp. You don't think that's helped to speed up the transition to center? Try having PMFM in your ear on every incorrect line call made all offseason. Now he just needs to get some real game action under his belt.

Now, the fact that they brought back Koppen and immediately signed Lilja might scare off some folks. They might say that no matter what Dove Valley says about Manny as the starting center, their actions speak louder than words. Well, to that set, I say, you're probably right. But I'm hoping thr Broncos' extraordinary track record of developing players internally extends to Manny. Plus, who do you want facing Ngata own opening night: a 320 lb man in the prime of his career or a 290 pounder, just talked out of retirement, and coming off multiple injuries.

To that I say the answer is clear: vote Manny in 2013.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-08-01 01:58:56

LOL

Posted by Lolly on 2013-08-01 01:52:48

The medical issues were probably exacerbated by the prospect of another year playing in KC. Playing in front of Peyton Manning probably takes away a lot of the owies...

Posted by DCJ1 on 2013-08-01 01:19:46

The main question no one is asking is how serious where the knee and toe surgeries that encouraged him to retire?

Posted by OutOfYourElement on 2013-07-31 23:48:51

Despite only one year of playing center Lilja protecting Manning makes me feel better than Ramirez.

Posted by Hank Mardukis on 2013-07-31 22:49:47

Another thing to consider. Pretty hard to look impressive in front of that Cassel/Quinn clusterbang. Look at how Clady and his teammates suffered a decline in their pass blocking rating during the Tebow amateur hour.

Posted by Yahmule on 2013-07-31 22:38:22

You might be right on Kuper. I'm starting to doubt that Blake will survive camp, unless he can light a fire under himself. He's older and he's getting tossed around - bad combination.

Lilja's +15.4 run blocking and -1.2 pass blocking is balanced by the fact that he only had 3 sacks, 5 hits and 9 pressures all year in 2012, and played 1023 snaps. Vasquez is strongest in pass blocking, with Franklin posting similar numbers on both last season.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-07-31 21:24:53

Good signing. I think the Broncos really wanted to have a good veteran in the mix, given that Ramirez hasn't played center since high school and everyone else who is healthy is so young. Plus competition is always a good thing.

And I would suspect that, with Lilja on board, Chris Kuper is even more likely to be gone at some point. No reason to keep Kuper around when you have another reliable veteran in Lilja who, even if he doesn't start at center to open the season, gives you a less expensive veteran backup.

May the best man win the starting center gig.

Posted by Bob Morris on 2013-07-31 20:35:11

I heard Lilja's weight is down to 240lbs on a Slim-fast diet suggested by Dan Marino. Haha..just kidding.

Posted by Rollston Frangopoulos on 2013-07-31 20:20:44

Plus, the guy has tons of experience with Manning.

I love the way John Elway takes care of business.

Posted by Yahmule on 2013-07-31 20:12:01

Andrew Mason:

"Lilja is here to provide another possibility at center, and if he is as successful as the last ex-Chiefs center to join the Broncos (Casey Wiegmann, 2008-09), the Broncos will be ecstatic, and a massive question up front will be answered."

"Massive question". That is both literal and figurative. We better hope he's turns out right. Game 1 vs Haloti Ngata is going to be tough. Stay healthy, Ryan. We need you.

I guess all that ManRam statistical stuff just didn't translate. Who'dathunk?

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-07-31 20:10:24

I would tend to think Elway and company would have inquired about this very thing. If not they are incompetent.

Posted by Hank Mardukis on 2013-07-31 20:09:44

If this guy thought he was retired, what's he weigh now?Stink now does not look like Stink who blocked for Elway.Hope Lilja kept working out.

Posted by Alaskan on 2013-07-31 19:56:42

This was the news I was hoping to see as I pulled up the ol' google machine.